St. Landry democrat., 1887-08-06

Noted Men-The Future of the Sect.
Garfield Park is a bathing resort be
tween Ogden and Salt Lake City, where
the dense water Of Great Salt lake Oh
stinately resists all endeavors to sink.
On an excursion train thither from Og-
den l remarked to a man alongside of
me that there seemed to be a GOOD many
women on board the car. Yes; all in
the car are Mormons, and they haven't
any horns, either" volunteered a shrill,
perky voice behind me. A small-eyed
fat woman was the speaker. The
man testified at once that when he
worked on railroad and told his fell
low-workmen he was a Mormon they
whispered to themselves, "Why, he has
no horns; looks like one Of US; talks
like US; works as we'll Why, they told
US at Denver Mormons had horns,'
This was but sample of the vile things
told about them in the East, chimed in
the woman, who it seemed was his wife.
Anybody could see they hadn't horns.
Down at Salt Lake City even more
atrocious ISLANDERS, with just as little
foundation in fact, would be heard from
the traitors and gentiles. Traitors, was
| informed, were apostate Mormons.
In further talk learned from the lady
| that she was her husbands first and
only wife. Her father was a former
Mormon missionary in England, now
in the penitentiary for conscience's
sake" or, in other words, for pOlygamv.
President John Taylor and John c. Can
non, also for conscienCes sake were
in exile, to escape similar immurement. |
suggested an appearance ofinconsstency
between President Taylor's hiding and
celebrations. to the more lowly of the
church, issued from his safe retreat, to
brave the penitentiary before surrender
ing faith-and numerous wives. No;
this hiding was also for conscience's
sake" These hiders were old men-"poor
old men, to be so prosecuted ~ she added
sympatheticalv. They keep out of the
way; but they would willingly go if
they were caught
| then delicately wondered if she
would like to have her husband take
other wives. She said she would rather
have him marry more wives than go
around among strange women; she
could not complain if he treated her
right; he would only be doing his
duty to his church. This was par
rot-like, and evinced no enthusiasm
about fellow-participant in conjugal
bliss But, without the alternative of
the strange woman" | suggested, after
some hesitation. her enumeration of
Eastern vices thereupOn was startlingly
direct and candid. and given without
the slightest blush or hesitation. To
leave the alternative out Of the question:
was like trying to base an argument on
imaginary or impossible premises, in
which protitless discussion she did not
care to eSpend her breath. 1t was a
fundamental Mormon belief, | saw at
once that man would either marry more
wives, or take to licentious ways.
Mormon emigrants were sometimes
stopped in New York l had noticed. So
they had been ; but this would not always
be; the time was coming when transport
tatiOn by rail would be unnecessary; they
will come riding in the clouds-1 might
laugh, but should see it just the same.
The Bible prophesies that trains shall go
like lightning. Chariots were the coming
Mormon mode of transportation.
She could not disclose what transpired
in the endowment house, of course; but
if I had gone through it once myself l
should not deem it such dreadful affair
as people believe. Their>tirst marriage
is legally binding, and the legal ceremony
with other additional Mormon forms,
of course-is performed in the endow-
ment house. They are 'bound together
for all eternity" and shall live together
in the other life.
1t is also their belief that George Wash
ington, General Grant and General Gar
field were men especially endowed by
God for great purposes, who did not live
long enough to reach the truth of Nor
monism. Mormons are often baptized
for them; prayer after death has its
value all great men of history have
been prayed and baptized into paradise;
they were born in darkness, and did
their best, according to their light The
idea of licentious old Mormons going
down into the water to purify the worlds
heroes had something so ludicrOus about
it that my gravity was almost upset.
The time will come, she said when all
people shall be Mormons, and the present
persecution of the Mormons is brought
about by Providence to sift out the trail
tors. Miracles are daily performed. A
woman who committed adultery was
stricken dead in the tabernacle, and an
other who had consumption still lives!
The gentiles also think Mormons igno-
rant; such was not the case. Cannon at
Washington was 1.-The most intelligent
man that ever walked up the steps of the
Capitol"
Despite the protests of the bigoted
among them | found that the Mormons
are weakening in their polygamous belief.
Mormon children, recognizing their
own misery when contrasting their es-
tate with that Of gentle associates, are
kept in the fold with difficulty after
reaching years of discretion. This com
mingling with gentiles, and the strict
enforcement of the law against polyg-
amy, are undermining Mormondom.
E. c. SAvIDGE.
Table Etiquette in Zanzibar.